Last updated on September 20th, 2023 at 06:28 am

So, you’re planning a trip to France? Or any French-speaking countries?
But you do not speak French?
Here are 20 easy French phrases to know for travellers and words you might need through your trip to make it a little easier!
Sometimes, not everyone speaks English, although most of the time, French (at least in Paris) knows at least basic English, so you should be fine. Especially in touristy areas, it shouldn’t be a problem as they are accustomed to foreigners and required to speak English. If you go to the country or some less visited areas, though, it’s 50/50!
However, I think it’s always nice to know a little bit or some words of the language of the country you visit!
As I wrote above, those French phrases can be used in any French-speaking country; they contain necessary words and sentences that might be used during your stay. To ask for help to buy Metro tickets (although it’s reasonably easy with the machine and you can choose the language you wish) at restaurants and so on!
Easy French Phrases To Know When You Visit

Alright, so first of all, let’s start with some short words (I promise it is; I don’t say that because I’m French), which are basic French.
FRENCH
- Bonjour | Bonsoir
- Au revoir
- S’il vous plait
- Pardon ~ Excusez moi
- Merci (beaucoup)
- De rien
- Oui / Non
ENGLISH
- Good Morning/Good Evening
- Good Bye
- Please
- Excuse me
- Thank you (very much)
- You’re Welcome
- Yes / No
See? I told you this is easy! So, it’s time to move on to my next bit.
Now that you have a few basic vocabularies that could be useful during your trip to France let’s move on to more complete phrases to add to your survival French phrases guide. ➻
FRENCH
- Parlez-vous anglais ?
- Je ne comprends pas
- Je ne parle pas français
- Excusez moi, pouvez vous m’aider?
- Où est la gare?
- Où est la rue x?
- Où est x?
- Comment faire pour aller à ?
- A quelle heure le bus/train part-il ?
- Un/deux… tickets s’il vous plait –
- L’addition s’il vous plait
- C’est combien ?
- Quelle heure est-il s’il vous plait ?
ENGLISH
- Do you speak English?
- I don’t understand
- I don’t speak French
- Excuse me, can you help me?
- Where is the train station?
- Where is x street ?
- Where is -any monuments-
- How do I do to go to x?
- When does the bus/train leave?
- One/two tickets, please
- The bill, please.
- How much is it?
- What time is it, please?

Read: Tourist Scams To Avoid In Paris
I know French pronunciation can be a little tricky for foreigners (but it’s cute!), especially with our “r”, for example.
While I can’t help you out with pronunciation on a written post ( well, actually, I could record and post on here, but trust me, you don’t want to hear my awkward self, anyhoo), I can, however, link you to this super helpful website, Forvo.
Forvo is an online pronunciation dictionary where native speakers record themselves saying a specific word so you can search for the phrase you need so you know how to pronounce it! It’s an excellent tool for anyone learning a language on their own.
With this, you can use some basic phrases and words daily during your trip to France or any French-speaking country! Hopefully, this will help you out. You might even want to start and learn French after ah ah.
If you’d like to know anything else, leave me a comment below, and I will gladly help you. 🙂
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Easy French Phrases and words to know for Travellers visiting France



✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
If you need help planning your next trip, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered! Here are my favourite websites and apps to plan a trip!
✈ How To Find Flights?
My favourite website to book flights is Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
Google Flight is also a good help when it comes to comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
The best sites to book accommodations are Booking.com or Expedia. They both allow you to collect points for a discount; it’s worth comparing the two as they often have different pricing for the same hotels.
Another perk about Booking.com and Expedia is that you can get bundle deals for flights and accommodations, which can sometimes help you save a lot of money. And don’t worry; you can also select to add accommodation for only a specific part of the trip if you’re not only staying in one place.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
My go-to website when I need to book an activity is GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
I always check if the price is the same, though, as the whole point is for it to be easier but not more expensive.
If I don’t find the activity I want on GetYourGuide, I like to check Viator for more options!
You can also check out Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them. It was a great help when we needed a place to keep our luggage safely while we left the city for a few days.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe. It is very reliant and easy to use.
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Disclaimer: this resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a little commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. They help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
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Julie Boyd says
I am so embarrassed that I did not learn more french when I visited two years ago. This is super helpful, and I will definitely be studying up more for the next time I visit.
Lyne says
Even knowing a little French goes a long way, it’s the effort that is appreciated 🙂
Natasha L says
Handy little guide for non-French speakers. I find a simple Bonjour and Merci, au revoir go a long way in Paris. Couple it with a smile and you’re all set!
Lyne says
So true! It’s always nice when you see that people makes effort 🙂
Kaylene (Chadwell) Isherwood says
This is super helpful! Sometimes when I visit France, I forget all of the French I have learned haha, so I’ve pinned this post to look at before the next time I go. These phrases are super helpful to know when traveling in France.
Lyne says
It’s easy to forget when you don’t practise ahah. Happy to help! 🙂
carolineolesky says
Love this post! I’ve been studying French for 7 years and still can’t get my Rs right.
A Single Woman Traveling says
Very helpful! I think it’s so important to know key phrases when traveling!
Lorenza says
Very helpful! I took French in school but with Italian, had forgotten so many phrases! Thank you for the reminder!
Rebecca says
Looks like a great spot to explore!